Why Does Hamlet Delay Killing Claudius?

Hamlet is considered to be a main hero of cognominal play by William Shakespeare. The basis of the play composes the theme of revenge of young Danish king to his uncle for father’s homicide. The main idea and motives are clear. The question under consideration is why Hamlet delays killing of his uncle Claudius and what are the reasons of his doubts.

The ghost of Hamlet’s father come to him and asked to make a revenge for his death. Claudius is a traitor and a scoundrel in the eyes of Hamlet. Ghost ensures him in this displeased fact. Javed (328) is considered Hamlet as an executor of his father’s adjustments, as the one who has an obligation to take the change out of a person. His aim is to kill Claudius and he uses son for that affair:

Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
Hamlet: Murder!
Ghost: Murder most foul, as in the best it is,

But this most foul, strange and unnatural. (Quoted in Shakespare, “Hamlet”, 1.1. 28)

Moreover, Ghost adduces strong evidences of Claudius betrayal, which raise a neglect and contempt in Hamlet soul. A strong desire to deprive Claudius of life starts to arise in Hamlet mind. Still, because of some moral principles and ethic installations he distends this affair and excruciates himself by hesitancies.

McClure (15 Sept. 2013) argues that a high ethnical motive pacifies the Prince of Denmark to protract his implementation to the Ghost. Hamlet’s paramount characteristic is morality and it prevents him to fulfill hard revenge act. He is strapped by his ethic convictions and this is considered to be the main reason of his adjournment of a murder.

The essential role played the fact of religiousness of his character. Hamlet is familiar with the quotations from the Bible, what is more he uses them in the common speech. Hence, this man always show the value of Divine Will with the comparison of human volition which refers to ancient done in Gethsemane and lightly reflected in huge monologues (McClure, 15 Sept. 2013).
Here is the example of provenance which appeases him from the suicide which he has an intention to commit in the First Act. The allusion to the Psalm is existed here:

That the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon gainst self-slaughter (Quoted in Shakespare, “Hamlet”1.2.131-132)

Hamlet is a man who believes in God and he think over the idea of atonement for both Claudius and him. His uncle has acted a tremendous mistake and he ponders on what will discern him from Claudius if Hamlet commits a crime. He will also be a murder. This issue excruciates him as he makes a promise to the Ghost.

The other side shows us Hamlet’s attitude to the sin of Claudius. The moment than the Prince of Dania stands in front of Claudius who absconds from Hamlet in the closet reflects it clearly. The main hero makes a refuse from killing a fratricide. He decided to wait till the lust and sin get back and the soul of Claudius will stay in front of gates of hell. He cannot allow him to die and permeate to heaven (Dawson, 2 Aug. 2011).

Also, this killing is not purely Hamlet’s intention. It is the behest of the Ghost and it should be accomplished capitally. His task was to fling Claudius to the hell and to induce his uncle to get his just deserts. Dawson (2 Aug. 2011) notes that Hamlets duty was not to despoil Claudius life but to “cause him so to fall that he [Hamlet] should push the door open, and find ready entrance.” The entrance to hell is mentioned here. Hence, his delaying of killing may be interpreted in this paradigm also.

All in all Hamlet is guided by diverse intentions and purposes. They all based on moral dogmas and reflect the ethic of Prince and his dignity. Whether it is a religious principles or effectuation of devoir affair he follows this appeal to achieve the goal. And as Dawson (2 Aug. 2011) argues, Hamlet does not kill his uncle and does not execute the wreck; but the King gets killed and the wreck is executed through him. Shakespeare represents it more by destiny and doom than potent will of a man.

Reference List:
Bloom, Harold. “Hamlet:Poem Unlimited”. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print.
Boyd, Richard. “The Plays the Thing/Wherein Ill Catch the Conscience: The Legal Community Reads Hamlet.” Humanities Abstracts. EBSCO, Oct. 2009. Web.
Cantor, Paul A. “Shakespeare: Hamlet” UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004, 3rd ed. Print.
Dawson, George. “An Excuse for Doing Nothing: Hamlets Delay.” Shakespeare Online. M.A. London: K. Paul, 2 Aug. 2011. Web.
Javed, Tabassum. “Perfect Idealism in Shakespeares Prince Hamlet.” Humnaities Abstracts. EBSCO, Sept. 2013. Web
McClure, Haven. “The Modern Readers Hamlet.” London: R.G. Badger, 1922. Shakespeare Online. 15 Sept. 2013. Web
Prosser, Eleanor. “Hamlet and Revenge”. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1967. Print
Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet”. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1968. Print.
Venema, Jeremy. “Shortly they Will Play Me in What Forms They List upon the Stage: Hamlet, Conscience, and the Earl of Essex.” Humaities Abstract. EBSCO, Mar. 2012. Web.
Williamson, Claude C.H. “Readings On The Character of Hamlet.” London: Routledge, 2005. Print.